Bargain

by Riley S. Keene

  A man with a splinted leg hobbled over and handed Hartmut a weapon belt. Hartmut looked down at the weapons in his hands, and then up to Elise. His eyes were shining with unspilled tears. “I would have been honored to carry these to my dying day, but I think we both know that she would have wanted you to have them.”

  It was Merylle’s belt, with her sword and dagger. The weapons had been polished until they gleamed, and the leather of the belt itself was freshly oiled. They were beautiful. Elise felt a rush of goosebumps as she accepted the belt. She tried to thank him, but the sound that escaped her lips was almost a sob, and she clamped her mouth shut before another could escape. Hot tears pricked the lids of her eyes and Elise just nodded to him.

  “She was...” Hartmut trailed off, looking up to the ceiling to stop his own tears from falling. “I should go check on the preparations. I’ll come and fetch everyone when we’re ready to begin.” He hurried off, leaving her alone.

  Elise stood there a moment watching the Overseers who still hung about, drinking and talking loudly of Ermolt’s dragon slaying. She wished she could find somewhere private where she could collapse and cry until she felt more in control. Where her tears could fall with no one to witness them, and dry before anyone could see them. But if she was alone, they might not find her for the funeral. And she wanted to be there. She needed it.

  Elise wound Merylle’s sword belt around her hips. The fit was tight, as Merylle had been a smaller woman, but all buckles buttoned and all straps were able to be tied off. The belt felt good on her hips.

  She rested her hands, one on each hilt, as Merylle had done so many times before. A fresh tear slid down Elise’s cheek.

  It felt good. It felt right.

  Elise would always favor a mace, just by virtue of it being the weapon she trained with for so long as a Conscript. But this sword and this dagger would always be close at hand.

  In her memory.

  The funeral was held about a bell later by moonlight on the cliff at almost the exact spot where Merylle had brought Elise. It felt eerie to the Conscript—like there were years and years missing between that moment and this one.

  She cast her eyes out over the city, so as to not look at the body laid out next to the grave. It looked much the same as it had that night, with only one exception. The Temple of Teis was dark. The gaudy glow that had once enveloped it was now gone. The city looked... empty. Vacant. Alone. How many years did that Temple dome shine brightly, reminding the people of Jalova that they had a God who watched for them?

  The funeral began just after second bell. Hartmut conducted the funeral in a very traditional Jalovan style. He omitted mention of Teis specifically, instead substituting in the sky that He was supposed to represent. Given Merylle’s background in the Temple, it seemed fitting that he committed her spirit to the sky in honor of her service to it, despite how her service ended.

  The ceremony itself was lovely, but short. No one wanted to go through a thousand steps of rite and ritual, especially this late at night. Not even for Merylle, who would likely have been miffed that they’d had a funeral anyway.

  As Hartmut drew the ceremony to a close, he took the opportunity to be the first to say a few words. He had kept himself together very well through the funeral arrangements, but his strength began to crack as he spoke about Merylle’s qualities as a leader and a friend, offering his deepest condolences to her successor, who would never be able to measure up.

  Just as it seemed he would erupt into open weeping, he asked if anyone else would speak, and he cast his eyes directly to Elise. She felt a stab of panic, but Ermolt stood before she could react. She was relieved to have a moment more to compose herself. As Ermolt moved away, Elise realized Athala was missing. She’d originally sat to the barbarian’s other side, but at some point she must have returned to the Keep. Elise didn’t blame her. The wizard had been more drained than any of the others, what with all the magic she’d cast to keep the dragon from killing them, and she didn’t deal with grief well even on the best of days.

  “I would like to tell you a tale,” Ermolt began as Hartmut stepped aside to let him speak. Elise tried not to roll her eyes. Of course he was going to yammer about his own heroics in slaying a dragon. It was what Ermolt did best. “It’s one you all likely know very well, and one that none of us should forget.

  “Before us lies a noble soul.” Elise stilled. This wasn’t what she expected at all. “This is a woman whose belief in wrong and right outweighed all else. It outweighed fear and common sense, and drove her to stand against a God.” He looked out over the assembled Overseers. The group was quiet, watching the barbarian with somber expressions and fresh tears. “And her strength and nobility is what drove all of you—all of us—to follow her. Without her, no one would have stood against the Temple, and the City of Jalova would still trapped under the forces that stormed your Keep and killed your fellows.

  “Merylle told everyone she had devoted her life to revenge, but in truth, deep down, what she believed in most was doing what was right. The last decision she made was to do what was right, no matter what it cost her, even her revenge. You all have more memories of her than I do, but do not forget this one: she gave up everything for what was right. When faced with a choice between right and wrong, she sacrificed herself to do what her heart told her. I will never forget the nobility of her sacrifice. She deserves to be remembered.”

  Ermolt paused a moment, taking a deep breath. Elise could see fresh tears on his cheeks in the moonlight, although his voice gave no hint of his sorrow. “So that is my tale. A woman lived her life for revenge, but gave it for what she believed was right. She was a beacon of strength and hope for all who knew her. And no matter what happens in the coming seasons, and in the years beyond, remember her sacrifice for what it was. Fearless. Noble. Right.” He bowed his head for a moment and then turned slightly to address Merylle’s body. “Thank you.”

  There was a solemn silence as he returned to his seat. He put his hand on Elise’s back as he sat, and helped to guide her to her feet. She wasn’t ready. Not after that. But she made her way to the front of the group anyway, feeling awkward as she walked up next to Merylle’s body. She could feel the tears running down her cheeks as she reached down to touch her hand.

  It was cold, but not unpleasant.

  Elise felt like in the world next door, there were years and years between their kiss on this spot and this moment of her touching a dead hand. What might have been in that time?

  “Love,” Elise said clearly. She was surprised at how loud her voice sounded. “Faith and love.” She looked up over the assembled Overseers. “We’re taught that they’re equal. That faith for a God or a cause is equal to the love you can feel for your fellow man. But that’s not true. Faith can be lost. Even Gods can fail you. Let you down. And no one knew that more than Merylle. But she never had faith. Not even as High Priest. She didn’t have faith in Teis. She loved Him. And when He rejected that love, she didn’t lose it. She brought it with her.” Elise looked back over the small crowd, meeting people’s eyes where she could. “She brought it here. She loved you. Merylle told me, after the assault on the Keep, that she couldn’t wait to strike back. She would do anything to protect all of you from another attack like that. She loved you all.

  “The world is a dimmer place without her.” Elise looked back down at the calm, still face she stood over. “But her love will not be lost. We have it.” Elise laid one fist against her chest. “We have it in our hearts, and we will carry it forward.” She looked back up to the Overseers. “May her love guide you all into a future she would be proud of bringing to this world.”

  Chapter Forty-Four

  Morning came before Elise found sleep. She watched the sun rise from her bed in the Overseer’s Keep and eventually the sounds and smells of a freshly cooked breakfast coaxed her to abandon her attempts at resting.

  They had a long way to travel, but she would just need to push on. While in this place, she wou
ld find no comfort. There were too many doubts, too many what ifs.

  The Overseers had all woken up to get a feast together before Elise and her friends left. A final sending off. The dining room was full of life, with smiling faces and laughter that echoed across the stone walls.

  It almost felt normal.

  Elise fetched Ermolt and Athala and the three of them sat down to have one more meal with their friends. Stories were shared and jokes were told, but there was one topic that seemed to be off limits—anything that had happened at the Temple the night before. There would be time for epic retellings of Ermolt’s dragon slaying, just as there would be to talk of Merylle’s bravery and honor. But today, so soon, was not that time.

  Elise was morose for most of the meal, but she blamed it on the lack of sleep to those around her. In reality, it was what she spent the whole night thinking of.

  She had to talk to Athala.

  After breakfast and a round of baths, Elise, Ermolt, and Athala packed up their gear and said their goodbyes.

  Elise was never comfortable with goodbyes anyway, but this was even harder. She wanted to stay. She wanted to become the new leader of the Overseers, if only to honor Merylle.

  She wanted to abandon their quest.

  But Jalova was no longer safe from Ydia’s wrath. She would be found and likely eaten by Meodryt, if not just smote like in the tales of old. There one moment, a pile of ash the next.

  Hartmut was the hardest to say goodbye to. He asked her time and again if she’d stay, offering money and power that Elise didn’t doubt he had access to. But through tears and determination, Elise told him no. They had a job to do. They had to move on.

  He offered them to stay just a day more. Just to have a full day of rest before they traveled.

  But that was also a trap.

  Elise knew she wouldn’t just stay one day. The day of relaxation would be nice, but then there would be bandages to change and things to fetch. She’d stay for the statue ceremony they were talking about having in Merylle’s honor. They would eventually wear her down and she’d take on the mantle of leader.

  All because she stayed one more day.

  So they left.

  They walked through the streets of Jalova in silence, a single line plodding down the cobbled roads. The city was not in as much chaos as Elise had expected after the loss of Teis. Things were quieter, sure, and there was a palpable sense of uncertainty, but people still had lives to live. The bread still needed to be baked. Cows still needed to be milked. Groceries still needed to be bought.

  Whatever happened at the Temple, it didn’t stop the basic human needs of Jalova’s residents.

  This far from the Temple District, people didn’t seem to be bothered by the darkened Temple. But eventually the panic would spread, and eventually it would be too dangerous for the dragonslayers to be within the city walls.

  “So,” Ermolt said after a few blocks, obviously testing the waters for conversation with the hesitant word, “Jirda is next? And the sooner the better?”

  “Yes.” Elise touched Merylle’s sword where it sat on her hip. “We can’t go back to Khule for obvious reasons. And I doubt we’d be welcome in Jalova this time tomorrow, besides in the Overseer’s District or on an executioner’s block.” She sighed and traced the metal buckle of the belt that held the Overseer’s weapons to her hips. “Besides, you have more dragons to kill, right? It seems unlikely that we find another one here.”

  Ermolt grinned as he shifted his warhammer over his shoulder. “As much as I want to be the dragonslayer, I would have been crushed to paste time and again without the both of you. I, well, I never got a chance last night to thank either of you. So, thank you.”

  Elise smiled up at the large man and nodded once. Athala, however, seemed not to notice. She had her nose buried in a book she’d been gifted from Anton’s ‘library’. Elise was impressed by her ability to walk and read at the same time, without either falling over herself or running into someone. The wizard wasn’t exactly the most graceful being in Neuges, so the act was quite a skill indeed.

  “Athala, are you alright?” Elise asked.

  “Hm?” Athala looked up, blinking through whatever distraction held her mind. “Right. Yes. I’m fine.” She frowned and looked down at her book, then back up at Elise. “I just, er, I’ve wanted to talk to you about something. Ermolt... I hate to ask this but, um, can we have a moment?”

  The three of them stopped in the middle of the road and Ermolt frowned down at the two women, obviously thinking. After a moment he laughed and looked over their heads. “Of course. I’ll be right over there,” he said, pointing at a shop that seemed to sell skewers of meat. “The Overseers’ idea of a feast is not enough for my belly.” He laughed and walked away.

  Elise frowned after him. If he strayed from the shop, and Elise had to track him down, she might be forced to beat him with his own warhammer. They had to leave the city, and soon. But she was grateful for the moment to speak to Athala, even if she worried about what the wizard had to tell her.

  Athala shifted her weight from foot to foot, looking uncomfortable. “So, like, I just...”

  Elise reached out and stilled the wizard. “Athala. It’s alright. Tell me. What’s on your mind?

  “It’s just, um,” Athala paused and blew out a breath. “Elise, did we... did we kill Teis? Is Teis no longer a God?”

  Elise took a deep breath through her nose, closing her eyes for a moment. “I don’t know.” She opened her eyes again and found Athala’s expression even more concerned. “When Ermolt slew Sirur, something felt... different. I don’t know what, but it felt like something drained out of the Temple.”

  “It was the magic,” Athala said, “and the illusions of the sky, the so-called miracles of Teis, from my readings. I, um, I noticed when we left. At first I thought maybe it was, well... to be honest, I don’t know what I thought it was.” The wizard shifted once more, hugging herself around the chest. “I just...” Athala lowered her voice, “I just, I didn’t know you could kill a God.”

  “Me either,” Elise said. She looked across the skyline of the city to where the darkened Temple of Teis stood dormant. It sat there like an abomination, taunting the city with its inertness. “If that’s what we did.”

  “What else could it have been? I mean, um, I guess maybe Teis could have fled? But why would he abandon his followers just because we killed his dragon?”

  Elise thought about it for a moment and then shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t have answers, and I don’t know where we can find them.” She paused, playing with the hilt of Merylle’s dagger. She was unaccustomed to a weapon hanging off the right side of her hip. “But I think it would be safe to assume that this is part of Ydia’s plans for the Age of Mortals. W-we should assume we killed a God.”

  “I don’t think I’m comfortable with that idea,” Athala said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Like, at all.”

  “Me either.” Elise found herself looking to the Temple of Teis once more. She wasn’t sure it mattered if they killed Teis when they killed Sirur. Regardless, if He was without power, He’d be dead soon. If Elise knew anything about the God of Life, it was that She was relentless. If Her plans were to rid Neuges of the Gods, they would be gone. “In the end,” Elise said finally, tearing her eyes away from the Temple,”all we can do is hope we’re doing the right thing. May the Nether welcome us if we aren’t.”

  Thank You

  Hail, Hero!

  Here we are again. It’s always such a pleasure.

  Like before, we’re so glad you decided to join us on this journey and hope you enjoyed the book.

  If you liked Bargain and are hungry to see what happens to our heroes, then sign up for my mailing list! You get a FREE, full-length prequel for signing up, as well as all of the news, freebies, and random other bits you can handle.

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. All it takes is a moment of time, and it would greatly help us know what you liked or didn’t like.

  Ultimately though, we just wanted to say thank you.

  - Riley S. Keene

  PS: Keep reading.

  About Riley

  My name is Riley S. Keene and I’m a fantasy author.

  Well, okay. That’s kinda a lie.

  Riley S. Keene is actually the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing duo, also known as Robert and Kristen. They live in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy the rainstorms, lack of sunlight, and excess oxygen that come with living in that part of the US.

  Robert is a Pacific Northwest native who has a degree in Applied Mathematics and Computational Sciences. He has a love for video games and a dislike for pretty much everything else. Robert is in charge of writing the first draft for all of our books.

  Kristen was born and raised in a town outside of Philadelphia. She has a degree in Multimedia Design and works full-time as a marketer for a Seattle engineering firm. She loves gloomy weather, good books, food made from animals, and spending time with Robert. Kristen is in charge of outlining and editing for all of our books.

  Our ultimate goal as an author duo is to write entertaining fantasy novels that are inclusive but not preachy. We strive to include as many cultures, settings, and characters as we can without relying on stereotypes or tropes. Doing so requires a lot of research and hard work – and we’re the first to admit that it’s never as in-depth as we would like. So we encourage you – if you find something in our books that doesn’t represent a lifestyle, culture, or setting correctly, please use the contact form and send us a message. We’d be happy to be educated. It’s kind of our thing.